InsWeb’s Insurance Blog | Auto, Home, Life, Health, Renterstag:,2011:/12011-09-26T21:57:19ZInsWeb insurance bloggers keep you up to date with the latest information on auto, home, life, health, renters, motorcycle and business insurance.Movable Type 4.23-enReport: 9 Million Americans Lost Health Insurance Due to Unemploymenttag:blog.insweb.com,2011://1.5722011-09-26T21:49:27Z2011-09-26T21:57:19ZRoughly 9 million Americans lost their health insurance as a result of the economic downturn, according to a new report*. In all, an estimated 52 million Americans are currently without health insurance....Roberthttp://blog.insweb.com/about/about-bloggers.html#robert
Roughly 9 million Americans lost their health insurance as a result of the economic downturn, according to a new report*. In all, an estimated 52 million Americans are currently without health insurance.]]>

The number of uninsured Americans rose by 4.3 million in 2009, mainly due to job losses.

Most Americans receive health insurance benefits through their employer, and rising unemployment left many without coverage.

It's no surprise that those with the lowest incomes are most likely to be uninsured. Over 75 percent of the uninsured are members of the working-class.

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Report: 9 Million Americans Lost Health Insurance Due to the Recessiontag:blog.insweb.com,2011://1.5712011-09-20T17:33:32Z2011-09-20T17:43:30ZRoughly 9 million Americans lost their health insurance as a result of the economic downturn, according to a new report*. In all, 52 million Americans are currently without health insurance....Roberthttp://blog.insweb.com/about/about-bloggers.html#robert
Roughly 9 million Americans lost their health insurance as a result of the economic downturn, according to a new report*. In all, 52 million Americans are currently without health insurance.]]>

The number of uninsured Americans rose by 4.3 million in 2009, mainly due to job losses. Most Americans receive health insurance benefits through their employer, and rising unemployment left many without coverage.

It's no surprise that those with the lowest incomes are most likely to be uninsured. Over 75 percent of the uninsured are members of the working-class.

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Could a Traffic Ticket Save Your Life?tag:blog.insweb.com,2011://1.5702011-09-07T17:46:43Z2011-09-07T17:58:13ZNobody likes getting a traffic ticket--they're expensive, cause your auto insurance rate to increase and are a real pain in the you-know-what. But according to a new study, a ticket could save your life....Roberthttp://blog.insweb.com/about/about-bloggers.html#robert
Nobody likes getting a traffic ticket--they're expensive, cause your auto insurance rate to increase and are a real pain in the you-know-what. But according to a new study, a ticket could save your life.]]>

Research published in The Lancet, a medical journal, has found that drivers are more conscientious after being ticketed, at least for a while.

Researchers found that for a few weeks after receiving a traffic ticket, a driver's chances of being killed in an automobile accident fall by 35 percent.

After three or four months, though, the impact wears off and drivers continue to leadfoot around town.

So, the next time a cop gives you a ticket, give him a big smile and say thank you--he or she may be saving your life.

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Why Isn't Texting While Driving as Taboo as Driving Drunk?tag:blog.insweb.com,2011://1.5692011-08-22T16:45:20Z2011-08-22T16:51:55ZRoberthttp://blog.insweb.com/about/about-bloggers.html#robert
Research has shown that a driver texting while behind the wheel is as dangerous as a drunk driver. In fact, drivers who send texts while driving are 23 times more likely to be involved in an accident than those who don't.

Yet, for whatever reason, texting while driving is still deemed acceptable by many drivers while drunk driving is considered taboo.

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A recent article from the Insurance Journal explores this issue in-depth. It draws striking similarities between texting behind the wheel and driving drunk.

One state has already caught on. Legislation in Utah equates texting while driving with drunk driving. If a driver who is texting while driving causes an accident resulting in a fatality, he or she will be sentenced as harshly as if they had been driving drunk and could face up to 15 years in prison.

The National Safety Council estimates that 200,000 crashes are caused each year by drivers who are text messaging.

Check out the IJ article--you won't look at texting while driving in the same way again.

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Want to Lose Weight? Chew Moretag:blog.insweb.com,2011://1.5682011-08-16T16:22:30Z2011-08-16T16:41:11ZThe more you chew, the less you eat, according to new research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition....Roberthttp://blog.insweb.com/about/about-bloggers.html#robert
The more you chew, the less you eat, according to new research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

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The study involved 30 men--16 skinny, 14 obese--who were videotaped while eating a meal. The researchers guessed that the skinnier subjects would chew each bite more thoroughly than the heavier subjects. It turns out they were right.

During the next experiment, the subjects were instructed to chew each bite 15 times, while another experiment they were asked to chew 40 times.

When the subjects chewed each bite 40 times, they consumed 12 percent fewer calories than when they chewed 15 times. The 40-chew group also had lower levels of ghrelin, a hunger-producing hormone, in their stomachs.

So there you have it: Chewing, along with diet and exercise, should be a part of your weight-loss routine.

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10 Most Stolen Vehicles in Americatag:blog.insweb.com,2011://1.5672011-08-09T16:06:43Z2011-08-09T16:23:27ZLast week, the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) released a top-10 list of the most frequently stolen vehicles in the United States....Roberthttp://blog.insweb.com/about/about-bloggers.html#robert
Last week, the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) released a top-10 list of the most frequently stolen vehicles in the United States.

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For 2010, the most frequently stolen vehicles are as follows:

1994 Honda Accord

1995 Honda Civic

1991 Toyota Camry

1999 Chevrolet Pickup

1997 Ford F150 Series

2004 Dodge Ram

2000 Dodge Caravan

1994 Acura Integra

2002 Ford Explorer

1999 Ford Taurus

Older vehicles are stolen primarily for valuable spare parts, according to the NICB.

The report indicates that overall incidents of vehicle theft are down, mainly due to improved anti-theft technology. In fact, the FBI projects that 2010 saw the lowest rate of vehicle thefts since 1967.

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How Dangerous are NSAID Painkillers? tag:blog.insweb.com,2011://1.5662011-08-05T17:19:51Z2011-08-05T17:28:14ZAmericans are addicted to painkillers. In fact, more than 20 million Americans take NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug) on a daily basis. But how dangerous are these drugs?...Roberthttp://blog.insweb.com/about/about-bloggers.html#robert
Americans are addicted to painkillers. In fact, more than 20 million Americans take NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug) on a daily basis. But how dangerous are these drugs?]]>

An editorial recently published on PeoplesPharmacy.com explored the potentially fatal effects of NSAID painkillers.

The article references studies which suggest that the use of NSAIDs can:

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Insurers to Offer Birth Control Without Co-Pays tag:blog.insweb.com,2011://1.5652011-08-03T20:18:47Z2011-08-03T20:25:18ZBeginning next year, patients will no longer have co-payments or deductibles when receiving contraceptive and other preventive health services....Roberthttp://blog.insweb.com/about/about-bloggers.html#robert
Beginning next year, patients will no longer have co-payments or deductibles when receiving contraceptive and other preventive health services.]]>

The Institute of Medicine recently recommended insurers cover 100 percent of costs for certain preventive services for women. This week, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services signed those recommendations into law.

Other than birth control, insurers will cover the following services without out-of-pocket expense to patients:

Testing for HPV in women 30 and older

Counseling and screening for HIV

Domestic violence counseling

Breastfeeding support provisions, including pump rentals

A minimum of one annual preventive health visit

For pregnant women, screening for gestational diabetes

Annual STD counseling

The requirements will apply to new health insurance policies beginning August 1, 2012.

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Happy Meals are Getting Healthiertag:blog.insweb.com,2011://1.5642011-07-28T17:41:34Z2011-07-28T17:46:19ZIn an effort to offer healthier meals to children, McDonalds plans to decrease the portion of French fries and include a fruit or vegetable serving in each of its Happy Meals....Roberthttp://blog.insweb.com/about/about-bloggers.html#robert
In an effort to offer healthier meals to children, McDonalds plans to decrease the portion of French fries and include a fruit or vegetable serving in each of its Happy Meals.]]>

The company, which has been under pressure from health advocacy groups to offer healthier food to children, rolled out a list of changes on Tuesday.

French fry holders will be reduced from 2.4 ounces to 1.1. The company tried cutting fries from kids' meals entirely, but customers objected.

Side dishes will include apple slices, carrots, raisins, pinapple slices or mandarin oranges. The type of side dish will depend on the season and region.

The changes will take effect in September.

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PTSD? Smartphone Apps Can Helptag:blog.insweb.com,2011://1.5632011-07-26T16:40:08Z2011-07-26T16:58:17ZSoldiers suffering the invisible wounds of war have a new weapon against post-traumatic stress disorder: smartphone applications....Roberthttp://blog.insweb.com/about/about-bloggers.html#robert
Soldiers suffering the invisible wounds of war have a new weapon against post-traumatic stress disorder: smartphone applications.]]>

The Pentagon and Veterans Affairs Department have developed applications with names such as "Breathe2Relax," "MoodTracker" and others to help soldiers manage their symptoms.

The newest application, PTSD Coach, offers step-by-step directions to assist in muscle relaxation and breathing, self-assess and track their symptoms and mood changes, and offers a list of emotional support hotlines.

A few major symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder include:

Flashbacks to traumatic events, which may last for minutes or days

Disturbing dreams

Depression and emotional numbness

Irritability, shame, anger or guilt

Being easily frightened or shaken

Seeing or hearing things that aren't real

The Pentagon stresses that these applications are not intended to diagnose illness or replace counseling. Rather, they are tools designed to help soldiers manage their day-to-day symptoms.

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Flu Vaccines are Already on the Way tag:blog.insweb.com,2011://1.5622011-07-20T17:58:48Z2011-07-20T18:09:51ZRoberthttp://blog.insweb.com/about/about-bloggers.html#robert
Though the 2011 flu season is still three months away, flu vaccines are already on the way.

Looking to avoid a potentially crippling shortage of vaccines, some drug manufacturers are disbursing shipments early.

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This year's formulation is similar to last year's, offering protection against a range of type A and B strains. This includes the H1N1 virus, otherwise known as swine flu.

Even if you had a flu shot last year, you'll need it again this time around. The immunity offered only lasts for a short period.

The CDC recommends influenza vaccination for anyone six months and older. Different forms of flu vaccine are approved for different age groups.

Six drug manufacturers are licensed to produce and distribute flu vaccines in the United States this year, according to the FDA. One of these manufacturers, Novartis, has already begun to ship its Fluvirin vaccine.

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Pharmacy Mistakes May Be Fatal tag:blog.insweb.com,2011://1.5612011-07-15T15:16:04Z2011-07-15T15:22:24ZBy catching drug-interactions and dosage errors made by physicians and other prescribers, pharmacists save lives. But an editorial posted this week on PeoplesPharmacy.com explains that pharmacies are far from perfect....Roberthttp://blog.insweb.com/about/about-bloggers.html#robert
By catching drug-interactions and dosage errors made by physicians and other prescribers, pharmacists save lives. But an editorial posted this week on PeoplesPharmacy.com explains that pharmacies are far from perfect.]]>

In fact, pharmacists themselves are often guilty of critical errors, as we see in this excerpt from the story:

Pharmacists are highly trained health professionals. They can save lives if given the chance. When mistakes occur, though, the results can be tragic, as one reader reported:

"My ex-husband died from a pharmacy error. He was in relatively good health before the pharmacy dispensed an overdose of Coumadin. The physician denied any responsibility for this problem, though the pharmacy blames the physician.

"The drug manufacturer clearly states in its written information that Coumadin should not be taken twice a day. Even if the physician erred on the phone, the pharmacist should have been knowledgeable enough to question the overdose."

According to the article, understaffed pharmacies are especially susceptible to errors.

So, triple-check your prescription and dosage, and always discuss your medication with your pharmacist. Also, you may consider checking drug interactions online at a site like Drugs.com.

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Should Golf Carts Include Seat Belts? tag:blog.insweb.com,2011://1.5602011-07-11T15:42:10Z2011-07-11T16:02:02ZSeat belts for golf carts--you've got to be kidding, right? Nope. Golf-cart fatalities aren't an everyday occurrence, but they do occur more often than you might think....Roberthttp://blog.insweb.com/about/about-bloggers.html#robert
Seat belts for golf carts--you've got to be kidding, right? Nope. Golf-cart fatalities aren't an everyday occurrence, but they do occur more often than you might think.]]>

Last month, a woman in South Carolina was killed following a golf cart accident, raising the question: Should seat belts be mandatory on golf carts?

In this case, though, seat belts weren't the primary issue--alcohol was involved. Here's a snippet from the Insurance Journal:

"Anita Kay Bergeson, 37, of Knoxville, Tenn., was riding with her boyfriend in his parents' golf cart in Sun City at about 11 p.m. June 4. She had a beer in one hand and her feet propped on the dash, according to the Sheriff's Office report. When her boyfriend made a sharp left turn, she fell out, hit her head and died.

"Investigators deemed it an accident but said the sharp turn and the fact that Bergeson was not holding onto the cart and did not have her feet planted on the floor contributed to her fall."

In addition to wearing seat belts, experts advise driving during daylight, taking it slow and, of course, not consuming alcohol while operating any vehicle, even a golf cart.

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More Drivers Use Social Media for Car Insurance Advicetag:blog.insweb.com,2011://1.5592011-07-07T15:30:42Z2011-07-07T15:59:18ZRoberthttp://blog.insweb.com/about/about-bloggers.html#robert
In the good old days--that is, the era before MySpace--drivers interested in learning more about car insurance might rely on their insurance agent, a family member or even Consumer Reports to guide them.

But in today's high-tech world, that's quickly changing.

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Now, Facebook, Twitter and other social media networks have become the go-to source for car insurance advice and information.

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New Study: More Americans Praying Over Healthtag:blog.insweb.com,2011://1.5572011-06-28T16:01:06Z2011-06-28T16:14:30ZThe number of Americans praying about personal health issues has increased 36 percent from 1999 to 2007, according to a new study from the American Psychological Association....Roberthttp://blog.insweb.com/about/about-bloggers.html#robert
The number of Americans praying about personal health issues has increased 36 percent from 1999 to 2007, according to a new study from the American Psychological Association. ]]>

The study, which surveyed over 30,000 adults, found that 49 percent of respondents prayed about health issues in 2007.

Respondents who experienced a significant decline or improvement in health reported more prayer, suggesting that Americans use prayer to cope with changing health circumstances.

A few notable statistics from the study include:

43 percent of respondents prayed in 2002; 49 percent prayed in 2007

56 percent of women prayed in 2007, compared to 40 percent of men

Those who engaged in regular exercise were 25 percent less likely to pray than those who didn't